I think they need to get a more reliable way of watching

The words of John Legend, “I think they need to get a more reliable way of watching television on the laptop. Because I travel so much, if I want to watch my favorite sports team it might not be showing in that place, so I want a reliable way to watch whatever I want to watch on my laptop,” speak to a modern longing that is both simple and profound. Beneath the mention of technology and screens lies a deeper truth: the desire for connection in a world that often scatters us across distances. The musician, ever moving from stage to stage, knows the ache of being away from the familiar rhythms of home. His words remind us that even the most celebrated among us are still bound by the longing to remain close to what they love.

The origin of these words rests in the life of an artist whose path demands constant travel. For John Legend, music has carried him across the globe, but it has also taken him from the small comforts of continuity. Watching his favorite sports team is not merely about a game—it is about grounding, about holding onto a piece of identity that does not change, even when the scenery always does. Thus, his call for reliability in technology is more than convenience; it is the cry of the traveler seeking stability amidst motion.

This yearning is not new. In ancient times, soldiers marching far from their homelands longed for the familiar songs of their people, for news of their villages, for glimpses of what anchored them. The Roman legions carried with them not only weapons but also emblems and tokens from home, for they knew that the heart needed more than armor. So too does Legend carry his longing: to remain bound to the familiar even when oceans lie between him and home. Technology becomes the modern vessel of this eternal desire.

Consider also the story of Alexander the Great, who in his far-reaching conquests would grow restless when he could not hear word from Greece. Despite the glory of empire, he too hungered for connection with what was familiar. His messengers, riding tirelessly back and forth, were the ancient equivalent of the reliable streams Legend calls for. Without these connections, even the mightiest conqueror felt the ache of dislocation.

The lesson is this: human beings are not only wanderers, but also root-seekers. No matter how far we travel, how successful we become, how wide our reach, our hearts crave touchstones of familiarity—whether in the form of family, culture, traditions, or even the joy of watching a beloved team play. The technology we create should serve this timeless need: not merely to entertain, but to keep us anchored to what matters most.

Practically, this calls us to use the tools of our age wisely. If we travel, let us not lose ourselves in disconnection, but find ways to carry with us the things that bind us to our roots—rituals, conversations, shared experiences, even streamed games or stories. And when we create systems or innovations, let them be judged not only by their novelty, but by how well they preserve the bonds of human life.

So, beloved listener, hear John Legend’s words not only as a plea for better streaming, but as a reminder that technology exists to serve the soul. The true goal is not endless entertainment, but reliable connection—to home, to memory, to identity. For though the world pulls us into motion, our hearts will always hunger for what keeps us steady. Let us therefore cherish and protect those anchors, for in them we find rest, no matter how far our journeys may carry us.